Others that made it onto the longlist were Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow; Pallant House in Chichester, West Sussex; the Weston Park Museum in Sheffield; and Edinburgh's Scotland And Medicine: Collections And Connections.

Engaging audiences

Braintree's District Museum was named for its textile archive and the De La Warr Pavilion in East Sussex was selected for its relaunch.

The Metropolitan University's Women's Library was recognised for its exhibition on prostitution while the new aquarium at the Horiman Museum was picked out by the judges.

The Gulbenkian Prize is designed to recognise and stimulate originality in museums and galleries in the UK as well as boost visitors' appreciation of them.

Ms Stock said the judges were "hugely impressed" by the way the entries sought to engage audiences.

"This is a truly inspiring longlist and the next stage of our judging process will be a really tough challenge."